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AUTUMN EQUINOX – SEPTEMBER 22nd

The autumn equinox occurs on the 22nd. This is when the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading south towards the winter solstice in December. At this time, from any point on the Earth’s Surface day and night are of Equal length.

THE PLANETS THIS MONTH.

MERCURY.

Mercury is not visible this month.

VENUS.

Venus is still skirting the western horizon in the evening. Look VERY low down about half an hour after Sunset at an azimuth of around 245° at the end of the month when the 3 day old sliver of the Moon passes 4.5° to the North of the planet. You will need a clear, unobstructed view of the horizon to see this conjunction.

MARS.

Mars has now moved from the constellation of Cancer where it resided last month, and now passes swiftly through Leo, passing less than a degree North of Regulus (alpha Leonis)on the 16th at 17h. Note its position on the morning of the 16th and also on the following morning. It isn,t often you get a good sence of a planet moving against the background stars but this will be an excellent opportunity to experience this (it’ll be cloudy of course). On the 25th at 18h the Moon will pass 1.5° North of Mars.

JUPITER.

Jupiter and Saturn dominate the early morning sky lying as they do in the constellation of Taurus. Their apparent motion against the background stars slows considerable throughout the month as they head towards their respective oppositions in a couple of month’s time. At the start of the month Saturn crosses the meridian (i.e. lies due South) at 06:03 with Jupiter following it half an hour later at 06:30. On Sept 19th at 02h Saturn lies 2.5° North of the Moon and on the same date the Moon passes 3.5° South of Jupiter at 20h.

Launched in October 1989, the Galileo Jupiter Probe entered orbit around the great planet on December 7th 1995. The Project Galileo Homepage will give you up-to-date information and the very latest images returned.

SATURN.

Saturn can be found in the Morning sky close to Jupiter – see Jupiter text for details.

URANUS and NEPTUNE.

Uranus and Neptune, having passes their oppositions are now evening objects. Neptune crosses the meridian at 20h at the end of September with Uranus following close behind at 21h.

Both can be found in the Capricornus, Uranus maybe found close to the naked eye star theta Capricorni, whilst Neptune lies close to Sigma Capricorni.

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